Learner’s

STUDY GUIDE

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January–April 2009Adult Bible Study

photo: Joshua Tree National Park, Californiaphoto: Joshua Tree National Park, California

• Meeting GodIsaiah’s Encounter with the Divine

• Holding On in PerilousTimesWhen Faith Is Put to the Test

• Meeting GodIsaiah’s Encounter with the Divine

• Holding On in PerilousTimesWhen Faith Is Put to the Test

• What Would Jesus Say?Lenten Meditations on the Teachingsof Christ

• The Wonder of EasterPaul’s Resurrection Faith

• What Would Jesus Say?Lenten Meditations on the Teachingsof Christ

• The Wonder of EasterPaul’s Resurrection Faith

Check out theTravel Journal inside

Check out theTravel Journal inside

inai is a centering point in salvation history. Shrouded in myth and mys-tery, this barren place became the

birthplace of biblical faith. Sinai is mostfamiliar to many as the great and terriblewilderness through which the Israeliteswandered for forty years. Throughout thecenturies, Sinai has been crossed byprophets, saints, pilgrims, and warriors.

This triangular wedge of shifting sand andmajestic mountains is bordered on thewest by the Gulf of Suez, on the east bythe Gulf of Aqaba, and on the north bythe Mediterranean; its southern tip pointsto the Red Sea. From vast and dry desertsin the north to occasionally snow-coveredmountains in the south, Sinai coversapproximately 24,000 square miles.

SinaiA Great and Terrible Wilderness

by Jim Pitts

SinaiA Great and Terrible Wilderness

by Jim Pitts

S

View of the SinaiPeninsula from space

NASA photo.

View of the SinaiPeninsula from space

NASA photo.

The Sinai peninsula is a landbridge connecting the Middle Eastto North Africa, the Negev tosouthern Israel. This vast wilder-ness is sparsely populated bynomadic herdsmen known asBedouins. Their tents pitched nearwater wells and shrouded by datepalms are living reminders ofsojourners past.

In southern Sinai, monastic communities have been established. As early asAD 327, Empress Helena was impressed when shown a bramble bush. Sheordered a small chapel to be built around it. About AD 530, the small chapelwas enlarged by Emperor Justinian into a formidable fortress with a churchand monastery.

Saint Catherine’s monastery is adjacent to Jebel Musa (the Mountain ofMoses) and home to a dozen or more Orthodox Monks. Over the centuries,pilgrims and scholars have been attracted to their library of ancient manuscripts and sacred icons.

A traditional Bedouin Tent with fabricwoven from goat and camel hair.A traditional Bedouin Tent with fabricwoven from goat and camel hair.

A living reminder with rootsback to the days of Moses,

the legendary “burning bush”flourishes next to the Chapel

of the Burning Bush.

A living reminder with rootsback to the days of Moses,

the legendary “burning bush”flourishes next to the Chapel

of the Burning Bush.

The monastery library preserves the second largest collection of early codicesand manuscripts in the world, outnumbered only by the Vatican Library.The famous Codex Sinaiticus, now in the British Library, was taken from themonastery in the nineteenth century. Their collection of mosaics, icons, andliturgical objects dates back to the fifth and sixth centuries.

With a smile, monks point out to “eager to believe” pilgrims the site of the“burning bush” and Jethro’s well. The monastery’s namesake, SaintCatherine, was an Egyptian from Alexandria who was martyred in AD 395.According to legend, her body was carried away by angels. Some five centuries later it was supposedly found at the top of a mountain near themonastery.

Occasionally, devout visitors are allowed to enter the Charnel House.Because the monastery’s small cemetery is not large enough to accommo-date the monks’ remains, after a few years they are moved to the cryptbeneath the Chapel of Saint Trifonio.Within the Charnel House, the previouslyburied and now re-exhumed bones andskulls of deceased monks, who worshipedand worked at the monastery, rest andawait the great day of resurrection. Thisnever to be forgotten reminder of mortal-ity places life, death, and our eternal hopein perspective.

The monastery library preserves the second largest collection of early codicesand manuscripts in the world, outnumbered only by the Vatican Library.The famous Codex Sinaiticus, now in the British Library, was taken from themonastery in the nineteenth century. Their collection of mosaics, icons, andliturgical objects dates back to the fifth and sixth centuries.

With a smile, monks point out to “eager to believe” pilgrims the site of the“burning bush” and Jethro’s well. The monastery’s namesake, SaintCatherine, was an Egyptian from Alexandria who was martyred in AD 395.According to legend, her body was carried away by angels. Some five centuries later it was supposedly found at the top of a mountain near themonastery.

Occasionally, devout visitors are allowed to enter the Charnel House.Because the monastery’s small cemetery is not large enough to accommo-date the monks’ remains, after a few years they are moved to the cryptbeneath the Chapel of Saint Trifonio.Within the Charnel House, the previouslyburied and now re-exhumed bones andskulls of deceased monks, who worshipedand worked at the monastery, rest andawait the great day of resurrection. Thisnever to be forgotten reminder of mortal-ity places life, death, and our eternal hopein perspective.

Monastery of St. Catherine

Skulls of monks rest insacred and ordered peace

Monastery of St. Catherine

Unique for a Christian monastery, Saint Catherine’s has an Islamic Mosquelocated inside its massive walls, thus providing hospitality to its near neigh-bors and indigenous people of the mountain, the Gebeleya. Built in thetenth century, the mosque became a sign of allegiance to Muslim powers,who pledged their protection of the monastery.

Jebel Musa rises some 7,500 feet above sea level. Itwas here, tradition states, that Moses received theTen Commandments. Hiking three hours from themonastery along a narrow rocky trail and ascendinghundreds of steps in the night offers a reward of aspectacular sunrise.

Sinai was and remains the ultimate wilderness trek. Here rebels wereredeemed and reconciled and sent on their way to a place of promise. Hereformer slaves became a people with a divine destiny and an eternal hope.Fleeing out of Egypt to a land of freedom, guided by a cloud by day and apillar of fire by night, Sinaibecame a celebrated chapterand a transitional holy place.Here the Hebrews became aunified, monotheistic, andchastened people.

The Gospel of Matthew, connecting the old with thenew covenant, presents Jesusas a new Moses. Mother Mary,Joseph, and the infant Jesustraveled across Sinai to Egyptto escape Herod’s wrath. Theyremained there until thedeath of King Herod. This wasto fulfill what had been spo-ken by the Lord through theprophet: “Out of Egypt I havecalled my son” (Mt 2:15). Aswith Moses and the Israelites,for Jesus and his family theway home was through thegreat and terrible wildernessof Sinai.

Unique for a Christian monastery, Saint Catherine’s has an Islamic Mosquelocated inside its massive walls, thus providing hospitality to its near neigh-bors and indigenous people of the mountain, the Gebeleya. Built in thetenth century, the mosque became a sign of allegiance to Muslim powers,who pledged their protection of the monastery.

Jebel Musa rises some 7,500 feet above sea level. Itwas here, tradition states, that Moses received theTen Commandments. Hiking three hours from themonastery along a narrow rocky trail and ascendinghundreds of steps in the night offers a reward of aspectacular sunrise.

Sinai was and remains the ultimate wilderness trek. Here rebels wereredeemed and reconciled and sent on their way to a place of promise. Hereformer slaves became a people with a divine destiny and an eternal hope.Fleeing out of Egypt to a land of freedom, guided by a cloud by day and apillar of fire by night, Sinaibecame a celebrated chapterand a transitional holy place.Here the Hebrews became aunified, monotheistic, andchastened people.

The Gospel of Matthew, connecting the old with thenew covenant, presents Jesusas a new Moses. Mother Mary,Joseph, and the infant Jesustraveled across Sinai to Egyptto escape Herod’s wrath. Theyremained there until thedeath of King Herod. This wasto fulfill what had been spo-ken by the Lord through theprophet: “Out of Egypt I havecalled my son” (Mt 2:15). Aswith Moses and the Israelites,for Jesus and his family theway home was through thegreat and terrible wildernessof Sinai.

A plaque commemoratinga transforming covenant oflove and responsibility